Recycle when changing substrate??

[Pamela_S.]

I am thinking about switching substrates in my tank in the near future. Would a substrate change cause a recycle? If so, is there a way to change substrates without this happening? Possibly changing it out in smaller stages or something, instead of changing it all out at one time? I do currently have 2 HOB filters on this tank, if that makes a difference. (Maybe I should just use this as an excuse for needing/setting up another tank.....LOL )

Also does anyone have any experience with keeping corys on flourite or eco complete? Could they also harm corys like gravel can? I don't know what either of these substrates feels like. Or would the flourite sand be better for my corys and benefit the plants as well? I had read about sand compacting and harming plants, would the flourite sand also do this?

I tried using search to look for these answers and couldn't find them....

[gm72]

If you change half of the substrate at a time you should be fine. I have switched a few established tanks' substrate without a mini cycle.

I have kept corys with eco complete with zero problems. They even bred for me.

I have a sand planted tank that is doing well, although I do think growth is slow.

Not sure about Fluorite sand.

[smaug]

Most of the beneficial bacteria resides in your filter,the bigger your filter area the less likely you will have a minicycle.

[KingFisher]

I changed from gravel to sand in my 55g all at once and did not have a mini cycle at all. I also have two HOB filters on the tank. Another tank has flourite substrate and IMO it would be way too sharp for cories. They would suffer from barbel erosion and not fare well. The problem with mixing sand with gravel is that after a while the sand will settle to the bottom eventually leaving only gravel on top. One way to keep the sand from compacting is to have lots of Malaysian Trumpet Snails in the tank. These snails burrow through the sand preventing it from compacting and preventing dead spots from forming. For plants, if you are using sand, I recommend adding root tabs under the sand at the base of the plants to supply them with nutrients. This is most important with heavy root feeders. Most fast growing stem plants can get enough nutrients by adding fertilizer to the water.
Plants play a big role in helping to prevent ammonia and nitrates from building up to unsafe levels. My nitrate level never has gone above 5 in my heavily planted 29 gallon. This does NOT replace the need for a good water change schedule. I change 25% weekly on all my tanks.

[gm72]

Brief question--do Malaysian trumpet snails disturb root structures?

[Lady Hobbs]

They're great in sand tanks because they keep the sand loose so plants don't get packed down by the sand.

[Lady Hobbs]

What will help when you change substrate is to vacuum your tank before removing the old stuff and save the dirtiest stuff and just dump it in the new set up. That mulm you transfer over helps get that new gravel established faster, too.

I've had mini-cycles changing gravel many times. Could be I keep my filters from getting too dirty.

[gm72]

They're great in sand tanks because they keep the sand loose so plants don't get packed down by the sand.

Right, but do they end up disturbing the root structure or do they leave the roots alone? I think I remember reading that they leave the roots alone?

EDIT: In the sand planted tank I have yoyo loaches, 4 of them. Wouldn't they eat the snails as they do the others that I feed them?

[Pamela_S.]

Thanks for the responses everyone!!

I'm going to have to look into different types of substrates a bit more before deciding which one to get. I wish more stores around here carried/used some of the different types so I could better check them out in person. Maybe Monday I'll call around.

To go along with the thought of sand and trumpet snails, those of you with planted sand tanks that have the snails, do you see good growth in your plants? The plants that I have are doing really well and I hesitate to disrupt that by choosing a substrate that would hinder their current growth.

I'll have to keep the vacuum tip in mind as well when I finally do switch. Thank you Lady Hobbs!

And it is good to know that it seems like switching substrates will not necessarily cause a mini cycle. I was a bit worried about that!

Also from this thread, I'll have to keep in mind that apparently the correct term is mini cycle and not recycle (can y'all tell that I am a newbie to all this...LOL ).